Lowry leaves the West aiming for Glory at Sydney

Additional reporting by Ben Gilby (8/8/24)

Above: Hana Lowry unveiled today by Sydney FC. Photo supplied to Impetus by: Sydney FC.

Sydney FC today announced the major signing of Perth Glory’s Young Matildas star Hana Lowry on a two-year deal.

The 21-year-old midfielder, a produce of the Football West NTC program made her debut for her hometown team Perth Glory back in 2019, ironically against Sydney, and has gone on to make 72 appearances for the Western Australian club, scoring 11 goals.

Speaking today about her decision to swap purple for sky blue, the Young Matilda said: “I am so excited to be joining the biggest club in the country. Sydney have always been challenging at the top of the table and I believe that they can take my game to another level.

“I will try my absolute hardest to help this club win more silverware and win their third Championship in a row and I can’t wait to get started.”

Reflecting on her time at the Glory, the 21-year-old said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to Perth for these last five years. Representing my hometown club has meant everything to me.

Above: Hana Lowry (purple) in action for Perth Glory against Sydney FC at Macedonia Park last season. Photo: Rob Lizzi for Impetus.

“I have grown so much as a player and as a person and I can’t thank everyone at the club enough for all the opportunities that I have been given. Whilst it’s time for a new chapter, I will always cherish the incredible memories I have made here and I want to wish the club all the best going forward.”

Lowry played every minute of the 2023/24 season for Perth, winning the Most Glorious Player award for the campaign as a result.

Sydney FC boss Head Coach Ante Juric was delighted to capture the Western Australian, who will team up once more with Millie Farrow, one of her teammates at the Glory last season.

“Hana is an outstanding player full of class and quality and she is a fantastic signing for the club,” Juric said.

“She has the quality to go to another few levels in her play and I am looking forward to seeing her grow, shine, and become a Sydney FC star. Hana is the type of player fans come to watch. I have no doubt with her play she will fit in well at Sydney and in no time will become a fan favourite.”

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Glory announce striker Gabby Hollar as first signing

6/8/24

Above: Gabby Hollar (white shirt) in action during her time in the US College game. Photo: South Alabama Athletics.

Perth Glory today confirmed that prolific American striker Gabby Hollar has joined the club for the 2024/25 A-League Women’s season.

The 24-year-old has taken the NPLW Victoria by storm this season and is currently the leading scorer in the competition having found the net 18 times in 19 matches for Boroondara-Carey Eagles.

Hailing originally from Ohio, Hollar was an All-American High School representative in 2017 and 2018, before going on to enjoy an impressive collegiate football career at Purdue, West Virginia, and South Alabama.

She scored 12 times and added five assists for South Alabama during the 2023 season and was named Sun Belt Player of the Year.

Glory’s new recruit is now thrilled to be opening a new chapter in her football career. “The opportunity to join Perth Glory is an absolute dream,” she said.

“I am so thankful to everyone who has helped me get to this point in my career and the club for taking a chance on me. The decision to move to Melbourne to play for Boroondara in the NPL and then hopefully get an opportunity in the A-League could not have worked out better.

“I cannot wait to get to Perth and get to work as this is just the beginning. I am so excited to start my professional career with such a great club and can’t wait to see the success the club has this season.”

Recently appointed Glory Head Coach Stephen Peters believes that Hollar is more than capable of transferring her stunning NPLW Victoria form into the ALW this term.

“Gabby’s record this year speaks for itself,” he said, “she’s a strong, powerful striker and a clinical finisher too, which makes her extremely difficult to defend against.

“I’m confident that she will complement the other attacking players we have in our squad, along with the ones that we’re bringing in, and that the club’s Members and fans will really enjoy watching her in action.”

Artwork: Perth Glory

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‘This narrative of pampering is very disappointing to hear’: Football Australia responds to media coverage

By Kris Goman 5/8/24

Above: Football Australia CEO James Johnson. Photo: Kris Gorman

James Johnson, CEO of Football Australia met with media this morning in Leichhardt, fresh off the plane from France, to talk about the Matildas journey at the Paris Olympics, the plans for replacing Tony Gustavsson and he also responded to the criticism the team has received in the press of late.

In recent days, The Australian newspaper reported, “some players were puzzled by coach Tony Gustavsson’s tactics during the Olympics and other major tournaments.”

They drew on unnamed sources to claim he had “lost the dressing room some time ago,” that it was “ disorganised chaos” and that several players have described it privately as “four years of hell”.


The Australian had no access to players other than formal press conferences where these allegations were certainly not mentioned. They do not name the sources that are “close to the players” at all.

Given the players are pretty much in a locked environment during the tournament, it’s very difficult to understand how anyone would or could get such information.

Johnson was asked to address these claims and categorically denied them.

“No, I’ve seen some of these rumours go around but I don’t think that is correct at all,” Johnson said of the reports.

“We have systems in place.

“We’ve put feedback channels in place over the past three years so after every camp and after every major tournament there are feedback channels the players give to the federation on an anonymous basis and I can categorically say that that feedback has not come and since the loss to the United States, I’ve had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with the leadership team and that’s not come up whatsoever.”

It was also suggested that the relationship with Sam Kerr is an all-time low with Football Australia. Is there any truth to that?

“No, I’m in touch with Sam right now and she’s obviously doing her rehab at the moment so she’s close to getting back on the field for Chelsea and as soon as she’s available to come back into the team, we’re looking forward to welcoming Sam back in.”

“It’s a very good relationship.”

Johnson also hit back at accusations of pampering players. The Matildas were afforded the conditions as set out by their CBA, the same as the Socceroos but it has been suggested by some outlets that this has negatively affected their performance.

“This narrative of pampering is very disappointing to hear. 

“The reality is we’ve set the Matildas program up the same as we’ve set the Socceroos up.

“This is a great group of women and they are great footballers that play at the biggest clubs in the world and, quite frankly, they deserve to have a program as good as the Socceroos. 

“We’re very proud of the environment we’ve set up for the CommBank Matildas and we’re going to continue to invest. 

“The reality is, if you compare ourselves to the United States Women’s program, they’re investing 300% more than what we’re doing. I think we’re on the right path and there’s been a lot of good progress and I’d say we’d go the other way.

“The more we can invest in this program, the better. They are not being pampered, they are being treated like professionals.”

So it seems there’s not a lot of truth to the rumours.

It’s well documented that the Matildas did not get out of the group stage of the Olympics. Many Matildas publicly said they wanted a medal so their early exit was seen as somewhat of a shock. Johnson was not shocked but said he was disappointed with the results.

“We’ve got to remember that when you go to the Olympics, there’s only twelve teams and we were in a group competing with number four and number five in the world.

“We knew we could beat Zambia but we knew that playing against both the United States and Germany would be tough matches.”

“I think if we look at the Olympic campaign, we didn’t do as well as we wanted to and I think we need to own that as a team and as an organisation. We did go out to number four and number five in world football. 

“Both USA and Germany, as of this morning, are both in the semifinals of the Olympics. These are the games that are always going to be tough and we acknowledge that.

“I think if we look at the cycle more broadly and Tony’s era, he has overseen arguably the biggest and best ever period for Australian football. He’s seen the team go to two semi finals. The Tokyo Olympics and the 2023 Women’s World Cup, so I think, as a cycle, I would say it was a success but if you look at the Olympic campaign in Paris, we didn’t go as far as we wanted the team to go.”

Johnson reflected on the last four years with Gustavsson at the helm and while we all understand that the goals for the Olympics weren’t achieved, it was refreshing to get some perspective from Johnson across the whole period and understand the magnitude of change that occurred.

“I think if we look at Tony’s reign, it is hard to get the balance between bringing players through and going deep in tournaments. I think if you look at Tony’s reign as a whole, he’s done a very good job.

“He’s brought the likes of Mary Fowler, Kyra Cooney Cross, Charlotte Grant, Clare Hunt and Clare Wheeler in.

“ He’s brought a new group of players through on one hand and we did ask him to do that because the team needed young blood to come through. He also took the CommBank Matildas to their best ever performance twice. Not once but twice – and that happened to be the best ever performance of a senior national team.”

Johnson stated that many of the current team are approaching the age of 30 and that the new coach would need to be looking to bring the next generation through. He said that no one has specifically indicated they are about to retire but when they do they want to treat them with respect and used Lydia Williams as the example.

“Going forward, we’ve got to get that balance right again.

“The reality is that some of our players are approaching the age of 30 and while those players, I hope, will still be available for the Women’s Asian Cup in 2026, when we get to the back end of the cycle, they’re going to be mid 30s by that stage.

“So naturally the next coach will need to bring a new generation of players through.

“We believe we’ve set ourselves up well. We’ve invested twice as much over the past 12-18 months in our youth national teams than we ever have before so that’s been a huge investment.

“We’ve established on the women’s side for the first time an Under 23 team and we have a line of coaches. We have an Under 23 coach, Under 20s and an Under 17s coach. So we’re investing more on new development than we ever have and we think that that will help the next coach bring the next generation of Matildas through during the cycle.”

Johnson said there was no strict timeline to find a new coach and that they would be looking both domestically and internationally.

 “It may take one month or it may take six months but there’s seven FIFA windows before the Asian Cup, which is the next tournament, so we have plenty of time to get the right person.”

“We’ve got seven windows before the Asian cup and those windows are windows that we control. They are friendly windows, not qualification or competition windows so time is up our sleeve. We want to make sure we get the right appointment. We know the market well and we went through a very thorough process before we hired Tony Gustavsson and we’ve continued to monitor the market ever since. I think we’re further ahead than what most would be and it’s about trying to find the right coach.”

This is not so surprising as it was well known that Gustavsson’s contract expired after the Olympics. It was a matter of whether or not the contract would be renewed for another cycle rather than sacking Gustavsson, per se. 

Johnson is not planning on appointing an interim coach because there’s no matches until October. The first priority will be appointing the panel that will oversee the appointment.

He’d like to get a coach in as soon as possible.

“The reality is we want to get the right appointment and we do have time. We’re going to look locally, we’re going to look abroad and we’re going to look for someone that can set the team up for success over the next cycle. If that takes a month, great – if that takes three to six months, then that’s fine as well.”

When asked about Joe Montemurro and whether he was being considered, Johnson did not eliminate the possibility.

“We know Joe very well. He’s a local coach who’s done an outstanding job in Europe.

“He’s coached Arsenal, he’s coached Juventus and now he’s coaching at Lyon. So we’re well aware of Joe, not just because he’s Australian but because he’s an Australian doing great thingsin Europe. 

“What I can say is that any coach that is at the top of their game that are coaching at clubland or at national federations around the world, they are on the radar and we just need to find one that is available and ready and willing to come to Australia and coach the Matildas.”

“We want a coach with fresh ideas that can come in and rejuvenate the team. Naturally the coach that we choose will have his or her own ideas and style of play but ultimately what we’ll be doing is setting the strategy and the priorities and that will be to perform as well as possible at the Women’s Asian Cup but also to set the team up for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.”

“The next cycle looks very different. We’ve got a home Asian Women’s Cup in 2026.

“We then play in Brazil for the Women’s World Cup and then we have Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. Playing at home for the Asian Cup – we want to win that and that’s going to be a key priority for us and that means we’ve got 15 months to really prepare for that competition.

“We’re going to set the strategy first and decide what’s going to be important over the next cycle and then find a coach that we think will deliver on the objectives that we set.

“A major priority over the next cycle will be our performance at the Woman’s Asian Cup on home soil in 2026.”

“We’re going to look locally and globally and we’re going to look under every single rock and ultimately we’re going to look for a coach that can on one hand win us the Woman’s Asian Cup and also do well in 2027 and 2028 but that can also bring the next generation of young players through. That’s something that of course is going to be a priority over the next cycle.”

Germany through to Olympic semi finals

By Kieran Petrik-Bruce 4/8/24

Above: Germany celebrate the penalty shootout win over Canada. Photo: DFB

Germany are through after some penalty shoot out heroics from Ann-Katrin Berger. Saving two of the spot kicks before converting the winning penalty, Berger produced a fantastic game to knock Canada out of the tournament. 

For 120 minutes, it seemed both teams were content to play a cat and mouse kind of match. 

It was clear early that Germany were looking to play fast and hit first time balls through the middle, via Alexandra Popp, who was again playing in that deeper midfield role for Germany. Giulia Gwinn started sharp as well, the right back cutting out on the stretch a ball down the wing in the opening minutes and also getting into dangerous positions going forward. 

The first real chance came via lovely run down the right, as Jule Brand jinxed through the middle with the ball resulting in a shot from Klara Brül which was well saved by Kailen Sheridan. 

The rest of the first half was largely uneventful save for the 5 minutes the crowd got involved with the Mexican Wave. A couple of half chances and nearly moments for both teams. But both Sheridan and Berger remained largely unchallenged. Canadian captain Jessie Fleming was involved in a heavy clash right before the half ended and was subsequently taken off during the break. 

The second half saw Germany lift the tempo, and the first 10 minutes was one way traffic. But much like the first half the chances were not clear cut and the great play outside the box could not be converted into opportunities, nevertheless, Germany looked likely to find something. A triple change on the 57′ mark was exactly the boost the Canadians needed. Cloe Lacasse and Adriana Leon both providing spark and dare with their play and signalling a chance in momentum.

Suddenly the game had more zest. Both teams knocking at the door, but it was Canada who would have the best chance. Released one on one with the keeper, Leon had the chance to give Canada the lead, yet it was Berger, fully stretched, and out quickly to deny with a fantastic save who rose to the moment. Despite missing a golden opportunity, Canada remained set to the task and kept pressing. Just after the cooling break, Canada whipped in a corner which was well claimed by Berger, who copped a knock in the process and was in the hands of the trainers for a few minutes. 

The rest of the 90 was again much of the same. Some good looks and getting the ball up the pitch but a lack of committed bodies in the box resulting in most attacks fizzling out. 

Extra time and within a few minutes, Ashley Lawrence expertly cut inside to fire a shot which was well saved and then held by Berger. Again though, neither team willing to risk much. The second half of extra time saw chaos almost immediately, with Berger coming well out and it was the great defending of Gwinn, heading a ball well clear of danger, to the recuse for the Germans. 

The final few minutes had as much action as the first 90, with Sydney Lohmann being brought down just outside the box and the resulting free kick finding a head and hitting the crossbar and over. A half chance for Leon at the other end who latched onto a cross and saw her shot fire just wide. With no winner, it would come down to penalties. 

Gwinn and Quinn both with excellent penalties to start, Janina Minge cooling converting before Berger with a fantastic save to her right to deny Lawrence. 2-1 Germany. 

Lohmann firing well over the bar but no matter because Berger yet again saving the penalty. 

Felicitas Rauch with another textbook spot kick, and Beckie stepped up, and squeezed the shot beyond Berger, the shot looked saved initially, with many believing it was, yet the German Keeper would still have the final say. 

Berger, stepping up with all the class and composure of a number nine, slotted the winner to send Germany through to face USA in the semi finals.

The Matildas manager short list

By Genevieve Henry and Kieran Yap (2/8/24).

Above: Melissa Andreatta. Photo: Aleksander Kostadinoski

Football Australia must now move to find a new head coach of The Matildas. With the exception of 2020 (and COVID lockdowns) the next 12 months ahead are the first in recent times without a major tournament and that grants time to make the right decision. 

However, with some retirements or replacements imminent among the playing squad, the next manager will play an important role, and with a home Asian Cup in 2026, the decision must be made carefully and correctly. Genevieve Henry and Kieran Yap go through some of the possibilities. 

Melissa Andreatta

Photo by Aleksandar Kostadinoski.


Andreatta is the simplest and most immediate option. If Football Australia like the way the team has been performing over the last four years as a whole, Andreatta is a good choice to continue that while leaving her own imprint on the team. 

The former Brisbane Roar coach has been one of Gustavsson’s assistants during his time in charge and is a natural successor to the Swede. She is familiar with both Australian football and the A-League Women, and knows the pitfalls of navigating Asian tournaments. 

Andreatta is the current head coach of the Under 23 side and has been vital in helping players make the leap from youth to senior football and providing players like Sharn Freier or Kaitlyn Torpey a chance to show that their club form can be replicated for the national team. 

Whoever the next coach is, will rely heavily on the work Adnreatta has done to prepare the likes of Amy Sayer and Ana Margraf to step into the shoes of Michelle Heyman or Tameka Yallop when the time comes. It might as well be the woman who helped usher them through herself. 

Leah Blayney

Hana Lowry (L) Leah Blayney and Bryleeh Henry. Photo: Football Australia


The Young Matildas coach has been in charge of Australia’s Under 20 side since 2019. It has been an impressive and entertaining tenure. 

The 2019 Asian Cup ultimately ended in defeat, but Mary Fowler, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Charli Grant, Courtney Nevin and Karly Roestbakken have all appeared at major tournament as senior players since. 

Deborah Anne De La Harpe and Indiah Paige Riley have gone on to play for other nations and Princess Ibini has become one of the most successful A-League Women players by the age of 24. 

Essentially, she knows how to develop players and bring out their strengths. 

Blayney’s 2022 Young Matildas performed admirably at the World Cup in Costa Rica. After winning the first game against the hosts  3-1, they exited at the group stage but took the game to Brazil and Spain with some encouraging performances, particularly from a then 15 year old Daniela Galic.

In 2024, Blayney guided the Young Matildas to World Cup qualification with a third place finish at the Asian Cup. Australia scored in every game, in sometimes frightening conditions and against a variety of opponents and tactics. Blayney rotated the squad heavily, ensuring fresh legs and avoiding mental fatigue in the do or die tournament.

Before the 2023 World Cup, the focus had to be global. Australia simply had to make the knockout stages and make an impact on the tournament to take full advantage of the occasion. 

Now, the focus could be much more regional. Australia have only been the best team in Asia once in 2010, and it is fair to say that the rest of the AFC is either trying to catch up or are close to overtaking us now. 

Results will matter against Asian opposition, and the AFC is a vast confederation that Blayney has success in navigating. 

She has built three very different, very valuable sides as a youth team coach, on limited resources. It feels like a matter of when and not if she will one day take charge of the senior team, but she does have the small matter of the U20 World Cup first.

Ante Juric

Photo By Kris Goman


The record-breaking A-League Women coach is surely one of the best coaches in Australia. Juric has achieved almost everything he can with Sydney FC and it might be time for him to look for a new adventure. In a press conference last season, he was asked if he would take the reins of the national team if called upon. His answer? An emphatic yes.

The work Juric has done to develop some of the brightest stars in the A-League Women is remarkable. He excels at not only bringing young players to their best, but taking players who have struggled at other clubs and making them into household names. From current Matildas Cortnee Vine and Clare Wheeler, to Future Matildas Indiana Dos Santos and Maddie Caspers, Juric knows exactly how to get players performing their best.

Not only that, but Juric has managed many of the current Matildas squad, helping them from the W-League to overseas, including Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, and Amy Sayer, as well as dozens of names likely to be in the national team in the future.

He receives the highest of praise by all those he has coached, with Vine saying, “He breeds a culture that is a winning culture, an accepting culture… No other coach does it like Ante.”

Juric also has experience coaching in the national team set up, leading the Young Matildas to top their group at the 2015 AFF Championship, with players such as Alex Chidiac and Princess Ibini leading the line.

Since 2017 when he became head coach of the Sky Blues, he has won three Championships and three Premierships. Although he’s had great resources and players at his disposal, it’s never been an easy ride. Just this past season, he managed to lead Sydney to the Championship while losing some of his best players to transfers and injury. He knows how to scrape through a season to get a win.

One of Juric’s strengths in coaching is his defensive management, an area the Matildas desperately need fixed. His side let in the fewest goals throughout the 2023-24 season even with captain and centre-back Nat Tobin out with an ACL.

All in all, Juric has the experience, the skill, and the relationships to do something special with this job if it comes his way.


Emily Husband

Photo: Central Coast Mariners


Although Husband has only just completed her first season in top flight football, her record and experience speak for themselves. After a 14-year absence from the A-League women, the Central Coast Mariners found success under Husband, even making a convincing finals run. She was named A-League Women coach of the year.

Although not from Australia, Husband has worked her way up from the NPLW, so she knows the talent pool more than anybody. Her time as head coach of Sydney University in the NSW NPLW was nothing short of spectacular, winning the league and coach of the year.

Husband’s coaching career has taken her all over the world, from the UK originally, to the US, Fiji, and all over both Africa and Europe. Wherever she goes, she brings her passion for football and nurturing players to be their best with her.

With the Mariners this past season, Husband has proved that she can take a group of players to the highest level with her tactics, recruiting, and culture building. Her side had one of the strongest back lines, second only the champions Sydney. A side the Matildas could learn from, they stuck it out through tough defensive moments to hit opponents both on the counter-attack and with possession based football.


She built the new Central Coast Mariners from the ground up and came agonisingly close to bringing them glory in her debut season in the top flight. As the national team enters an era of growth and rebuilding, Husband could help the Matildas reach the level they need to be.

Casey Stoney


Stoney is one of the very best coaches in the women’s game, and at the moment, she is clubless. After leading Manchester United women into the top division and making history with San Diego Wave in its first year as a club, Stoney finds herself in high demand.

After a third-place finish in arguably the world’s most competitive league in the Wave’s debut season, Stoney was named NWSL coach of the year. She furthered their progress in the 2023 season, winning the Shield (comparable to the Premiership). But after an underwhelming start to the 2024 season, she was given the boot.

Stoney, like many others mentioned in this list, excels defensively. A defender herself with over 100 caps for England, Stoney knows the calibre of opponents and exactly how to prepare her team for the best of the best. With both the Wave and United, their defence is what won them games and leagues, even. If she could carry that over to the international level, she may just be the coach that Australia’s talented yet chaotic defenders need.

Even with the poor season the Wave have had this year, under Stoney they conceded the third-fewest goals in the league. Unfortunately, they also scored the third-fewest goals. But scoring never seems to be the Matildas problem. They can score. They just can’t seem to stop conceding and letting opponents have massive chances due to negligence or silly mistakes. Stoney could be the woman to rectify that situation.

While Stoney could bring much value to the Matildas, especially in the backline, it is worth mentioning that once again going with a coach from outside of Australia could be risky, as she would not know the depth of talent available to develop, unlike others on this list.

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Matildas exit Olympics group stage

USA 2-1 Australia

By Kieran Petrik-Bruce 1/8/24

Above: Ellie Carpenter in action for Australia. Photo: Football Australia.

Til it’s Done

It’s a saying that has become the call for Matildas and fans alike. It’s applicable on and off the field. In the 11 goal thriller over Zambia it was evident. Two goals down against USA it was alive, and came so close to getting that vital point. The cruelty of football being that the Matildas put in their best performance in what was a pulsating defeat.

With a different approach to this game, playing Kaitlyn Torpey on the left, having both Katrina Gorry and Kyra Cooney-Cross in deeper roles, and Mary Fowler up top Australia looked more compact in defence, and when they got the ball right out wide, looked threatening with the best chance in the first 20 minutes.

In the next 20 minutes, USA peppered the goal, getting a lot of joy down the right-hand side, and forcing Mackenzie Arnold into a number of top quality saves. Then, chaos. A set piece and a goal for the USA. Australian pleading for the flag, Tony Gustavsson more so than most, earning a yellow which he sarcastically clapped. After a lengthy pause, to check for what could be argued was offside due to interference. The goal stood. The delay led to an extended first half which so nothing really eventful.

Second half saw USA start strong. Cooney-Cross off for Clare Wheeler, and the beginnings of signs that Australia may crumble looked likely. Yet, this was not the same team who shipped eight goals in the last two games. More resolute and willing, the Matildas fought back. Creating chances and when Michelle Heyman and Emily van Egmond came on, the attack had bite. It had a direction and the Aussie crowd was had been loud and energetic all evening upped the volume.

USA rang through the changes, looking for more stability and a way forward.
Then. Heartbreak for Tillies. A misplaced pass was latched onto and Korbin Albert hit a sensational strike into the top corner the fingertips of Arnold not keep it out.

Desperate to keep their fate in their hands, the Tillies lifted. Hayley Raso throwing herself around to the point of injury to further the cause. Tameka Yellop on, and Australia kept on fighting. 90 minutes ticked over and the chances looked slim. Turn to defender-turned back up striker Alanna Kennedy to finish smartly home from a Heyman-headed ball. Pandemonium.

The crowd was on its feet, the possibility of that second goal looked tantalising close, and another ball whipped in went agonisingly close to Kennedy’s head again. Wave after wave of attack and a late corner deep into seven minutes of injury time meant Arnold joined the attack, to find that moment that would bring joy to a nation.

Alas it wasn’t to be. The corner amounted to nothing and the final whistle shortly after signalled the fate out of their hand and the Tillies done for 2024 Olympics.

Teams: AUSTRALIA (5-4-1): Arnold, Catley, Hunt, Kennedy, Torpey, Carpenter, Foord, Cooney-Cross, Gorry, Fowler, Raso. Substitutes: Yallop (for Raso 85′), van Egmond (for Gorry 59′), Wheeler (for Cooney-Cross 46′), Heyman (for Torpey 59′).

Scorer: Kennedy 90+1′.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (4-3-3): Naeher, Dunn, Sonnett, Girma, Fox, Horan, Coffey, Lavelle, Swanson, Smith, Rodman. Substitutes: Williams (for Rodman 65′), Bethune (for Swanson 80′), Albert (for Lavelle 65′), Krueger (for Fox 65′), Nighswonger (for Dunn 46′).

Scorers: Rodman 43′, Albert 77′.

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South Melbourne win in the west

By Joe Rosedon 31/7/24

Above: South Melbourne revel in another goal. Photo by Kou Media via South Melbourne FC instagram

Calder United 0 South Melbourne 4 

Within the opening seconds, South Melbourne really should have taken the lead. Isabella Sewards’ inch perfect through ball set Francesca Iermano through on goal. Her effort however rolled passed the far post. This was a sign of things to come. 

Meshia Westland clattered the ball into the cross bar just two minutes later, a goal was surly coming for the visitors. 

Indeed, it did and it was Emily Roach who did the honours. In similar fashion to the early miss, Sewards again played the perfect pass. This time, Roach was able to find the net, steering the ball past an onrushing Natalie Picak

South Melbourne began the second half in a similar vein to the first, having all of the ball and continually threatening the Calder defence. Ierman was denied at close range from a brilliant Picak reaction save.

The inevitable second goal soon followed. Roach, who this time was the provider, turned just before the half way line and drilled the ball into the path of Tayla Christensen. Christensen looked up and after notching Picak was off her line, attempted an audacious lofted effort which flew over the head of the Calder goalkeeper and into the net 

Christensen was close to getting her second and Melbourne’s third, cutting into the box from the left-hand side and forcing Picak to push away for a corner.  

South Melbourne rapped up the scoring with two goals in quick succession during the closing stages of the game. Christensen retrieved the ball and was given time and space to pick out Grace Taranto in the box who had the simple job of tucking the ball away in the six-yard box  

Christensen was again involved with the creation of the fourth goal and usurpingly it again was a cross from the left-hand side. The ball was intended for Danielle Micallef but after some fortuitous deflections, the ball bounced off of Emma Langley and into the net.

Calder United still remain bottom of the table but remain only a point behind Moreland in 10th and have the same points as Bentleigh in 11th.  With games quickly running out, there form needs to improve as soon as possible if they want to avoid relegation. They will hope the turnaround can begin away to Alamein.

South Melbourne still has a chance of finishing in the top four but fourth place Heidelberg have hit form at the right time, denting their chances. They next play Box Hill United at home